Actor-director duos can make or break a film.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and director Rian Johnson just reunited on "Looper" after working together six years earlier on "Brick."
Though their two films may not have broken any box-office records, there are plenty of other duos who joined together year after year to put out Oscar gold (Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro and Woody Allen and Mia Farrow).
We know longstanding actor-director combos have put out tens of hits, but which pairings have been most successful?
We've compiled a list of go-to actor-director pairings, tracking their worldwide box office grosses to see which teams have earned the most at theaters.
Unsurprisingly, a few directors pop up on the list multiple times with different actors.
Not included in this list are those who joined forces for long-standing franchises ("Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings," etc.) because they would offset the rest of the list. Sorry, Christopher Nolan and Batman.
The exception to this is if a franchise didn't extend beyond two films ("Kill Bill"). In addition, the duos had to work on more than two films together.
19. John Hughes and Anthony Michael Hall: $114.1 million
Long before his small role in "The Dark Knight," director John Hughes pegged Anthony Michael Hall as a nerdy teenager in '80s hits "Weird Science," "The Breakfast Club," and "Sixteen Candles."
Film Bromance Count: 3
Highest-grossing film: "The Breakfast Club" – $51.5 million
18. John Hughes and Molly Ringwald: $115.7 million
Similar to co-star Anthony Michael Hall, Ringwald also starred in "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles"; however, the actress was also featured in Hughes' "Pretty in Pink."
Film Count: 3
Highest-grossing film: "The Breakfast Club" – $51.5 million
17. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton: $138.4 million
Woody Allen loved his leading ladies. He and Keaton began working together in 1972 on "Play It Again Sam." From there, the actress starred in his films throughout the '70s, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1977 for "Annie Hall."
Film Count: 7
Highest-grossing film: "Manhattan" – $40 million
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
